Stratosphere Big Shot

Each of the four attractions atop the Stratosphere Tower has it’s own unique qualities and its own reasons for being terrifying. The Stratosphere Big Shot ride is so scary because it is so incredibly high (it lifts you to a maximum of 1,087 feet in the air), and because it plunges you back down so rapidly.

The ride tower is 160 feet high, so it is quite an incredible plunge when it drops you back down. To get a better idea of just what the ride is like, check out the video below.

The ride lifts you the full 160 feet in just 2.5 seconds, and then it drops you just as fast, during which point you experience weightlessness – negative 1 G.

While type of ride at ground level is both cool and one heck of a thrill, experiencing the ride up 1000 feet in the air is nothing short of incredible. If you are the type who is scared of heights, you are either going to either be terrified of this ride or you are going to love it (once you talk yourself into getting on).

The ride is the type that literally takes your breath away, and the looks on people’s faces as they take the plunge is priceless. Even if you can’t summon the courage to get on, it’s fun just to watch. And if you need a bit more courage, there is a bar on the enclosed level below.

Here’s another cool clip of the ride, taken from two angles, one taken from on the ride, looking out at the view, the other looking up at the ride at the same time.

Of course, as good as these videos are, it’s hard to understand just how extreme the ride is in a video, and you really have to experience it for yourself to really get how amazing the ride is.

There are two other thrill rides on the top of the Stratosphere Tower (not including the SkyJump attraction). You can get a ticket to ride all three all day long. If you really love your thrills, then this all day pass can be quite a bargain.

The Stratosphere Tower is one of the most enjoyable places to visit on the Strip (even if it is located a bit beyond walking distance from most of the casinos). It is well worth the trip, and a great way to spend a few hours away from the tables, cooled by the winds, taking in the amazing views of the city, and having a blast on Big Shot and the other rides.